More

Stone: White Sox Need To Win At Home Or Else

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 13: A general view of U.S. Cellular Field during the National Anthem before the opening day game between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field on April 13, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)U.S. Cellular Field. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

(WSCR) The White Sox may be sitting one half game above the Indians for first place in the A.L. Central, but their home record is cause for concern.

Throughout their first 60 games, the White Sox have put together a record of 33-27 – 16-18 at home, and 17-9 on the road.

One White Sox expert said the team needs to start winning at U.S. Cellular Field, or they can say goodbye to their hopes of a postseason berth.

“That’s been a big problem,” White Sox color commentator Steve Stone told The Mully and Hanley Show. “If you can’t win at home, and the White Sox ball club is two games under .500 at home, that’s something that really has to change. If that doesn’t reverse itself, this team won’t be there at the end. It’s as simple as that. You play 81 games at home – you have to take advantage of it. Very few teams can dominate enough on the road to get to the point where they can afford to be under .500 substantially at home and come out winning.”

Last season, the White Sox finished with a record of 36-45, but Stone said that was for different reasons.

“Last year, this team had the same problem,” he said. “Now, this year, it appears the (reasons) aren’t the same, only because without the big boys hitting last year, more times than not, you were out-powered in a ballpark that’s built for power and that’s U.S. Cellular Field. This year, (Adam) Dunn is hitting the ball out of the park. (Alex) Rios has started to do that. (Gordon) Beckham has done it on occasion. … We’ve hit the ball out of the park. We’ve done that particularly well. The concern has been the bottom end of the rotation.”